Rating: 
Summary: For Hardcore/Serious Physics Majors, Others Be Aware
Review: Although I have not used/read any other physics books dedicated exclusively to thermal physics, I can only assume that those out there have to be better than Schroeder's. The book is not "An Introduction," nor is it an advanced approach to thermal physics. Being so, it's an intermediate approach to the subject at hand. And that, is the problem with the book. Being a sophomores and non-physics major in physics, "getting use" the concepts and ideas in physics may take times. This means I need a clear and ordered outline of each subject in physics and assurance from my instructors and the books that I am using. However, with Schroeder's book, I'm thrown into chaos and frustration. First, the author chooses not to have practice problems or ones with answers in the back. This is horrible for an "intro" book. Sometimes I'm left with doubts about my answers and reasonings behind them: Am I taking this or that into account? Can I apply this equation to this system? Having some means of assuring the student with a budding interests in physics would be nice. Not everyone can make it office hours. His expanations are good, but this problems are horrible ( Mathematics is not the problem). Chapter 1 was supposed to be a review, but the problems are not. I had to use Tipler's "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" and an old physical chemistry book to get me through. The problems that are presented are either too easy (plug-n-chug) or too difficult, but slim on anything in between. The worst ones are the ones that ask you estimate or assume this or that. Yes, it's great for developing a habit to critical think, but often it is just one or two hours aimlessly of getting nowhere, all to find out the next day that the answer could be easily derived in just a few steps.
Rating:
Summary: For Hardcore/Serious Physics Majors, Others Be Aware
Review: Although I have not used/read any other physics books dedicated exclusively to thermal physics, I can only assume that those out there have to be better than Schroeder's. The book is not "An Introduction," nor is it an advanced approach to thermal physics. Being so, it's an intermediate approach to the subject at hand. And that, is the problem with the book. Being a sophomores and non-physics major in physics, "getting use" the concepts and ideas in physics may take times. This means I need a clear and ordered outline of each subject in physics and assurance from my instructors and the books that I am using. However, with Schroeder's book, I'm thrown into chaos and frustration. First, the author chooses not to have practice problems or ones with answers in the back. This is horrible for an "intro" book. Sometimes I'm left with doubts about my answers and reasonings behind them: Am I taking this or that into account? Can I apply this equation to this system? Having some means of assuring the student with a budding interests in physics would be nice. Not everyone can make it office hours. His expanations are good, but this problems are horrible ( Mathematics is not the problem). Chapter 1 was supposed to be a review, but the problems are not. I had to use Tipler's "Physics for Scientists and Engineers" and an old physical chemistry book to get me through. The problems that are presented are either too easy (plug-n-chug) or too difficult, but slim on anything in between. The worst ones are the ones that ask you estimate or assume this or that. Yes, it's great for developing a habit to critical think, but often it is just one or two hours aimlessly of getting nowhere, all to find out the next day that the answer could be easily derived in just a few steps.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good But Crippled By No Solutions
Review: Compared to other Thermo texts I have read, this one is probably the most approachable. Examples are plentiful and the train of thought is quite logical. However, due to the lack of answers to the problems, this book is not useful for self study. Perhaps the author and publisher will "see the light" in 2e.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good But Crippled By No Solutions
Review: Compared to other Thermo texts I have read, this one is probably the most approachable. Examples are plentiful and the train of thought is quite logical. However, due to the lack of answers to the problems, this book is not useful for self study. Perhaps the author and publisher will "see the light" in 2e.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book and Online Support
Review: First, many of the answers to the text's problems can be found either online or are known implicitly! The problems themselves are kept interesting by relating to many fields and not being as dated (as another has mentioned, some computer/computational problems are offered--the author uses Excel but Mathematica, Maple, Origin, or other software is easily substituted) as other texts (especially in regard to Statistical Physics). The author gives links to good websites and references other solid texts for those wanting a more in depth or advanced discussion of a topic. The topics in the book are presented lucid and succinctly. An online errata is easily downloaded, though the corrigenda are not many. As mentioned, this text is very transportable. The author also notes that most of the layout for the book was done on his own computer thus keeping the price very reasonable compared to the bloated prices of texts Physics majors are accustomed. I think this text is very usable and well priced for a first year course in Thermal Physics. I also believe the author has put much thought in constructing this book to be used by students rather than to showoff his own knowledge or to be readable only to Physics Professors.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book and Online Support
Review: First, many of the answers to the text's problems can be found either online or are known implicitly! The problems themselves are kept interesting by relating to many fields and not being as dated (as another has mentioned, some computer/computational problems are offered--the author uses Excel but Mathematica, Maple, Origin, or other software is easily substituted) as other texts (especially in regard to Statistical Physics). The author gives links to good websites and references other solid texts for those wanting a more in depth or advanced discussion of a topic. The topics in the book are presented lucid and succinctly. An online errata is easily downloaded, though the corrigenda are not many. As mentioned, this text is very transportable. The author also notes that most of the layout for the book was done on his own computer thus keeping the price very reasonable compared to the bloated prices of texts Physics majors are accustomed. I think this text is very usable and well priced for a first year course in Thermal Physics. I also believe the author has put much thought in constructing this book to be used by students rather than to showoff his own knowledge or to be readable only to Physics Professors.
Rating:
Summary: great new textbook, I love this!
Review: I love this textbook. I'm taking thermal/statistical physics now after I took more advanced classes such as advanced classical mechanics, E&M theory, quantum, etc. I would say, this book is written exteremely well. this is thin,and light, so you can carry this book even to your gym! I like the structure of this book and found the problems very fun and useful to comfirm our unserstanding of the topics. I like the way he introduces multiplicity of large systems using spread sheet (excel, etc). the only problem is, as others said, that this book has NO answers at all. I can't understad why some authors think this approach helps students, specially, like me who wants to challenge as many problems as I can, not just the ones the teacher gives a solution set after we finish the chapter. I don't need answers for those asking to "show" but wish to have at least final answers to numerical questions. but overall, I want to thank to my teacher for choosing this book.
Rating:
Summary: Superb introduction for undergraduates
Review: I'm in my third year of physics, and so far this was probably the book I enjoyed the most. The writing is very good and at times humorous, the build-up of the book is okay, and the explanations are easy to understand and most of the time pretty detailed. Also, the writer does a good job of 'getting inside the student's head'. Plenty of examples, a joy from start to finish. The only disadvantage is that the problems do not have any answers in the back of the book. For the rest, I enjoyed every second of it.
Rating:
Summary: great new textbook, I love this!
Review: I've never given a 5 for anything. But this is pretty darn good for a first edition book. At my university we are without the benefit of an actual text and must resort to a booklet written by our instructor who seemingly feels his book is superior to any others. But this book is fantastic because it starts with the basics. I think this is great for any undergrad. Only 1 year of intro physics and 1 year of calculus needed to finish this book. My only gripe like the oher guy. No answers to the questions! NONE. Not even the odd questions. Needs more example problems and a chapter summary would be nice. The author needs to remember most of us are coming from Halliday, Resnick, Walker and are very used to their format. Good topic selection too. I hope we adopt this book at my department.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect for an under graduate.
Review: I've never given a 5 for anything. But this is pretty darn good for a first edition book. At my university we are without the benefit of an actual text and must resort to a booklet written by our instructor who seemingly feels his book is superior to any others. But this book is fantastic because it starts with the basics. I think this is great for any undergrad. Only 1 year of intro physics and 1 year of calculus needed to finish this book. My only gripe like the oher guy. No answers to the questions! NONE. Not even the odd questions. Needs more example problems and a chapter summary would be nice. The author needs to remember most of us are coming from Halliday, Resnick, Walker and are very used to their format. Good topic selection too. I hope we adopt this book at my department.
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